Islam is the religion of the majority in Malaysia, as well as the state religion. But the constitution guarantees religious freedom and gives the different religious communities equal rights. About 60 percent of the 26 million citizens of Malaysia are Muslim. In many areas of public life, ethnic Malays are favoured. Non-Muslims feel discriminated against. Whereas, the Malays feel threatened by the non-Muslim migrants who are in a stronger economic position.

Identity crisis

Chandra Muzafar is one of the leading intellectuals in Malaysia and also the president of the Malaysian Movement for a Just World. He explains what causes the tensions: "Many Malays are worried that their identity could be under threat from the Chinese population in Malaysia."

According to a recent survey, most Malays consider themselves first Muslims then Malaysians. 77 percent are in favour of stricter Islamic laws, and over half support the introduction of Sharia law, according to which a thief should have his hand amputated. Accordingly, some non-Muslim Malaysians feel threatened.

Conversion is an issue

However, Professor Kamal Hassan, from the Islamic University in Kuala Lumpur, believes that, fundamentally, most non-Muslims in Malaysia have accepted the privileged position of Islam. He says the current tensions in society are being fuelled by Christian missionaries who want to convert Muslims: "Converting triggered the debate, especially the conversion of Malays to Christianity."

Many ethnic Malays, above all women, who have converted to Christianity from Islam feel forced to lead a double life. One example recently hit the headlines. For six years, the 42-year-old Lina Joy fought for her conversion to Christianity from Islam to be officially recognised, finally losing the case in court. Apostasy -- the formal renunciation of one's religion -- is forbidden by the Koran. Lina Joy was rejected by her Muslim family and had to leave her job. The opposition Pan Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, supports the death sentence for apostasy.

Growing sensibilities

Peter Schier, the head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Kuala Lumpur, says that social harmony in multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious Malaysia has waned over the past few years.

"Before, members of different ethnic groups -- Malays, Indians and Chinese -- lived more together and would visit each other, especially during religious festivals. They would celebrate together, eat together and go out together. That's no longer really the case. Today, it's unthinkable for a Muslim to visit a Chinese household because he might have to eat from a plate which has had pork on it. Sensibilities, especially those of Muslims, are much stronger than they were twenty or thirty years ago."

As Malaysia celebrates its fiftieth anniversary of independence, the state is hoping to present itself as a modern state and conceal the social tensions. But elections are due next year and the words "race" and "religion" will surely come out into the open during the campaign, deepening the rifts in Malaysia's multi-cultural society.